Page 17 of Fragments of the Past

“It keeps me busy. Helps pay the bills. I’m not really cut out for anything else. And if I make too much money, I lose my disability benefits.”

“I’m not trying to be mean, but you seem young and healthy.”

“I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in my early twenties. I’d also been taking medication for migraines when I lost my balance and fell at work. Got a concussion. The ER doctor ordered a bunch of new tests and come to find out the stiff joints were fibromyalgia.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I am and I’m not. I don’t have to make excuses for falling asleep anymore or explain why I’m having problems sleeping.” My day is what I make of it. I rest when I need to and stay awake as long as I can manage. “I just wish I understood what I was doing to my body sooner.”

“What do you mean?”

“When Angeline was alive, I did a lot of consulting. And even more readings. The kind you’d expect in a big room filled with people: dead and alive. Opening yourself up like that takes a toll. I wasn’t smart about it.” I hadn’t built good barriers dealing with the dead, and it drained me.

“I think I used my abilities to gain acceptance. It backfired and instead I became the friend no one wanted to hang around with because her spooky powers and crazy health problems were more than they could deal with.” I wiggle my fingers in the air like I’m casting a spell. I’m certain Anson believes this is all woo-woo, anyhow.

“That must bother you?”

“I live a quiet life, detective. Having fewer people to count on might not appeal to anyone else, but quality over quantity is good for me, and in my book, that’s what counts.”

We order. A burger and beer for him. Beer and steak fries topped with sirloin, salsa verde, and cheese for me.

“You’re going to share those, right?” Anson drools when the waiter leaves us alone at our table.

I shouldn’t notice him licking his lips after his first sip of beer. He glances at me over the rim of his pilsner glass, holding my lingering attention. Those thick lashes entrance me again. I notice his pupils dilate.

Don’t fool yourself, Rae Lee.This restaurant has low lighting.

“During the walkthrough, did Pearl tell or show you anything about a head injury?” Anson clears his throat, knocking me back to reality. He takes his phone back out to jot down what I say.

I cup my temple. “I had a hot, sticky sensation here. My vision got fuzzy, like blood was trickling into my eyes and blinding me.”

“What about Mr. Turner? Can you run me through that again? Were there any other indications that you had that he might’ve sexually abused her?”

He continues taking notes, but most of what I recount seems redundant and counterproductive to what Anson needs to solve the case.

“I’m not sure any of this has been helpful.” I frown, fisting my skirt under the table.

“It has. I’ve actually been tracking some leads.”

“You have?”

“I met with Pearl’s best friend, and today a judge signed off on a warrant. I can’t give you any more details than that since it’s an ongoing investigation. But both things are encouraging. I planned to tell you, we hadn’t gotten that far in the conversation.”

“What I saw helped?” Butterflies zoom in my belly.

“It absolutely did.” He leans in and whispers, “You might’ve made me a believer.”

The server brings our food, and the table grows quiet. I pick at my plate of fries. Anson’s confession makes me antsy. Grasshoppers spring off my insides, tickling me along with the butterfly wings. I want to know more about him. And maybe I’m curious about what’s kept him from keeping me apprised.

“Do you date?”Why did I ask that?“I, uh, I got the impression that you and Angeline were involved.”

“We’d dated some.”

“Was it serious?”

“It would’ve gotten there, eventually. Angeline’s divorce had just been finalized. We were… Taking it slow. She’d had a rough couple of years and her primary concern was her son, Grant.”

Mothers put up with a lot of crap for their kids. Mine still does. But when I was a kid, my mom’s patience ended with another adult messing with me. Angeline was the same. Deep down, I firmly believe Angeline understood her situation would only get worse. Yet, like most women, she hadn’t wanted to give up on someone she once loved. I remember the news reports about the fallen officer. Angeline took her power back when Grant’s father’s threats became physical toward their son.

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